Browns' Josh Gordon eyeing team receiving record

Michael Allen Blair/ MBlair@21st-CenturyMedia.com

Browns' wide receiver Josh Gordon runs for yards after the catch in front of the defense of Jaguars safety Johnathan Cyprien during the third quarter on Sunday, December 1, 2013 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

Many great receivers have played for the Browns since the team was founded in 1946, but none of them — not Dante Lavelli, not Paul Warfield, not Ozzie Newsome and not Braylon Edwards — did what Josh Gordon is about to do.
If Gordon finishes with 41 yards or more receiving Sunday when the Browns play the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, he will break Edwards’ single-season record of 1,289 yards receiving set in 2007.
The game Sunday is the 13th for the Browns, but it is the 11th for Gordon because he was suspended for the first two games. The significance of setting the record in 11 games is seasons were 12 games long when Lavelli played, 14 games long when Warfield played and 16 games long when Newsome played.
“It definitely does (mean something) individually, but as a collective unit, for the team, the record in the win column is a lot more valuable to the city and to this organization,” Gordon said Thursday. “It would mean a lot more because the records could be broken by anybody at any given time. So it’s really just personal.”
It isn’t just the sheer, mind-boggling numbers that have made this season so special for the gazelle from Baylor, who over the last two weeks became the first player in NFL history with back-to-back 200-yard games — 237 vs. the Steelers and 261 vs. the Jaguars, to be precise. Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, Calvin Johnson, Tony Gonzalez or Randy Moss — none of those great players ever had back-to-back 200-yard games.
Charley Hennigan of the Houston Oilers had three 200-yard games in 1961, but never in back-to-back games. Johnson had two 200-yard games in 2011 and two more last season, but never back-to-back.
“Obviously, he’s proven he can be an elite receiver in this league in terms of production because he’s already doing that in terms of 1,200 yards in the number of games he’s played,” Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner said Thursday. “I always tell guys, I’ve been around a lot of guys that had a great game. I’ve been around some guys that had a great year.
“The great ones you’re talking about do it week to week to week and then they do it two years in a row and three years in a row and four years in a row. You do it like that and then people can start comparing you to some of those people you’re asking about.”
To think the Browns even considered trading Gordon earlier this season.
The reason he has played 10 games instead of 12 as his teammates have is he was suspended for the first two games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He said he ingested Codeine.
One more slip-up would mean an indefinite suspension of at least a year. Justin Blackmon of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who like Gordon was a rookie in 2012, is in that situation now. The Browns decided to take their chances for 2013 and seasons to come.
Gordon has emerged as the Browns’ best offensive weapon. Opponents know the ball is going to him and he gets open anyway. He has seven of the Browns’ 21 touchdown catches.
“The plays he’s made the last couple weeks are the same plays he’s made all year,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in Foxborough, Mass. “He’s a great player. He can attack all three levels of the defense. He can run through them, he can take the short plays, catch-and-run plays, crossing patterns, look patterns, plays like that, quick three-step drops and break tackles.
“He’s a complete player that can run fast, catch, a big target (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and he makes a lot of yards on his own after the catch with his speed, size and running ability.”
Gordon on Sunday will be challenged by Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib, who this season held Saints tight end Jimmy Graham to zero catches. Graham has 68 receptions, the most among tight ends this season.
Talib, 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, likes to get physical with the receivers he covers.
Last week, Winston Guy from the Jaguars tried to take Gordon out with a helmet to the chin. He knocked Gordon’s helmet off and Gordon landed on the back of his head. He was taken to the locker room and then returned to catch the 95-yard pass that put the Browns ahead temporarily, 28-25.
“I hold this team in high regard for their past, their coaching staff and the guys they have on their team and what they’ve done,” Gordon said Thursday.
“(Talib) is a real physical, scrappy player. But I’m going to come out there and do the same, go out there and make plays myself and try to make sure that nobody can stop me. I’m pretty sure he’ll make some plays, but I’m definitely going to make more plays.”
Gordon has made 64 plays so far this season. His 19.5 yards average per catch leads the league.
That is one team record Gordon will not set this year. Ray Renfro averaged 28.05 yards a catch on 21 catches (589 yards) in 1957.

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About the Author

Jeff has covered the Cleveland Browns since 1981. He also covers the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League and the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League. Reach the author at jschudel@news-herald.com
or follow Jeff on Twitter: @jsbrownsinsider.